Autumn is the best time of year to explore the country by car. The summer crowds are gone, the roads are quieter, the light turns golden by mid-afternoon and the hillsides change color almost by the week. We picked seven day trips that are all within two hours of Riverton, each with something worth stopping for.
Ashcombe, the stone village of the upper valley
Tucked into a bend of the river in the Valley Region, Ashcombe is the kind of place that looks better in October than in any postcard. Its stone houses, slate roofs and narrow lanes sit among chestnut and beech trees that turn copper and gold.
Park at the bottom and walk up to the chapel for the best view over the rooftops. On the last two weekends of October, the village hosts a chestnut fair, with roasted chestnuts, honey and cider sold straight from courtyards.
The Greywater ridge trail
For a proper walk with a big view, take the cable car from Greywater up to the ridge and follow the marked trail along the crest. The loop takes around three hours and is mostly gentle, with views over three valleys on a clear day.
Bring a warm layer: it can be ten degrees colder on top than in town. Check the cable car schedule before you go, as it runs reduced hours after mid-October.
Lakeshore orchards and the boardwalk
Lakeshore is at its best during the apple harvest. Several family orchards along the lake road let visitors pick their own fruit and sell fresh-pressed juice by the bottle.
Afterwards, walk the wooden boardwalk along the reed beds, where migrating birds stop to rest in autumn. Early morning is the best time to see herons and ducks on the water.
The falls at Cedar Falls
The town got its name for a reason. After the first autumn rains, the three waterfalls in the forest above town run at full strength, and the path between them is carpeted with leaves.
The full circuit is about six kilometers. Wear shoes with good grip: the stone steps near the upper falls stay wet all day.
A ferry to Gull Island from Port Alden
Take the morning ferry from Port Alden harbor to Gull Island, a 40-minute crossing with a good chance of seeing seals on the rocks near the lighthouse. The island has no cars, just footpaths, small beaches and a fish restaurant that stays open until the end of October.
Check the return times carefully. In autumn, the last ferry back leaves before 5 p.m.
Elmbridge old town and the botanic garden
The university town is lively all year, but autumn suits it best. Wander through the old town’s arcades and bookshops, then head to the university’s botanic garden, where the maple collection turns bright red in late October.
Entry to the garden is free on weekdays, and the café in the old glasshouse serves an excellent apple cake.
Westmoor’s heath and vineyards
West of the capital, the open heathland around Westmoor turns purple and bronze in early autumn. Small wineries on the southern slopes hold harvest open days, with tastings in their cellars and simple lunches of bread, cheese and young wine.
If you are tasting, bring a designated driver, or take the regional train from Riverton, which stops a short walk from the first vineyards.
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